Posts Tagged ‘Andy Murray’

First is Rafa, who this year definitely looks like he is a big winner. But this image snapped on the Wimbledon Center Court after he defeated Andy Murray in straight sets looks more like “prostration in defeat”:

Rafa is ever the gentle man in a gentlemen’s sport. He suggested that Murray would go on to win a major tennis title because he was that good, even if Rafa had just beaten him in 3 straight sets in the Gentlemen’s semifinal match.

Then there is another image of a notorious cyclist with is partner preparing for the first day of the Tour de France 2010 in Rotterdam. I say notorious because both men are the objects of ongoing investigation of doping allegations. The image here shous the determination and muscle power of an aging athlete.

But there are times while I am watching a match that I wonder why so much technology and expensive TV time is given over to a game. Some times the players don’t seem as focused as I like to think they should be. Those are the times when I wonder about the “meaning of pro tennis“. Do I watch to see which player will dominate to win? Do I watch because some famous rich players can be beaten and then I get some sort of psychic satisfaction, even if my life is not changed one iota by the results of a match in a major tennis event?

Murray beat Nadal last night quite soundly in Melbourne at the Australian Open. The article in the NY Times mentions that after that match “questions linger” about Nadal’s ability to win the “big ones” after recovering from a major knee injury. Do I watch because I want to see how this kind of sports drama plays out? How one player finds the energy and determination on a given day to beat the other? How even world class players can have good and bad days “on the job”, or find it such a challenge to regain their playing confidence after serious injury?

Maybe I like to watch the special drama of individuals playing at their best to see which one can find the way to beat the other and that’s entertaining!

Based on performances in Cincinnati last week ending yesterday, it seems that Roger Federer is readier than ever, the Williams duo ain’t nor is Dinara Safina, or Maria, the screamer. Certainly there is reason to doubt that Rafy Nadal will do much better than the quarters again.

For me there are three weeks of engrossing pro tennis action, the Australian in Jan, Wimbledon in late July and the US Open in last Aug and early Sep. So I look forward to next Monday for the start of tennis action in NYC.

It does seem peculiar that they should all choose this tournament to make their return to pro tennis. On the evidence of their two first games I would say that Roger Federer is ready to play but Nadal looks shaky. Rafy is the defending champion.

My own impression is that he will not repeat and his chances for the US Open don’t impress me!

Andy Murray is currently ranked fourth in the world
In-form Andy Murray has played down his tag as one of the favourites for the forthcoming Australian Open.
The 21-year-old has had a superb start to the year, defending his Qatar Open crown a week after beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in Abu Dhabi.

Murray 4-6 7-6 7-5 Federer
A double fault and a mis-hit brings up an eighth match point for Murray at 15-40. The Swiss world number two doesn’t look up for the fight this time – and he goes long. Murray wins the match and Federer is out of the Master Cup.

That’s it for Roger’s efforts in 2008. This time it seems that injury was a major contributor to his loss to Murray.

Raf’s style of play is catching up with him and this is not a good sign for Men’s ATP Tour. But Andy Murray, Djokovic and del Potro will make hay while Nadal and Federer and Nadal seem to be unable to dominate in the way that Federer has over the past 5 some years.